CFA Level 1 Exam Day Checklist: What to Bring, What to Expect and What to Revise (November 2026)
By CFA Master Team · Updated
Short answer: On CFA Level 1 exam day, bring your original, valid passport (the name must match your CFA account exactly), an approved calculator (TI BA II Plus or HP 12C, including their Professional and Platinum versions) and, if your test centre allows it, water in a clear bottle with the label removed. Arrive 30 minutes early. Everything else, including your phone, watch, food and notes, goes in the locker. There is no formula sheet in the exam, so revise formulas until the last day.
The November 2026 CFA Level 1 window runs from 11 to 17 November 2026. Most of what goes wrong on exam day has nothing to do with finance: a passport name that doesn't match, a calculator that isn't on the approved list, or arriving late. Each of these can cost you your seat and your exam fee. This checklist covers the rules, the timeline of the day, and what to revise in the final week.
We checked every rule below against CFA Institute's exam-day guide and its candidate policies on 22 October 2026. Policies change, so read the official exam day guide and personal belongings policy before you go.
The CFA Level 1 exam day checklist
| Item | Bring it? | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| International passport | Yes, required | Original and not expired. Your name must match your CFA account exactly. Checked at check-in for both sessions. |
| TI BA II Plus or HP 12C calculator | Yes, required | Only these models (plus BA II Plus Professional and the HP 12C Platinum, anniversary and Prestige editions). You cannot borrow one at the test centre. |
| Loose batteries, calculator case, keystroke cards | Optional | Allowed in the test room. Instruction manuals are not. |
| Small screwdriver | Optional | Allowed if you need it to change BA II Plus batteries. |
| Water | Optional | Allowed at most test centres in a clear bottle with a lid and no label. |
| Prescription glasses | If you need them | Allowed without the case. Smart glasses are prohibited. |
| Extra layer of clothing | Recommended | CFA Institute suggests it for comfort. |
| Food and snacks | Locker only | You can reach them during a break, with permission. |
| Phone, smartwatch, any watch or timer | Locker only | Not allowed in the room. Leaving them at home is safest. |
| Notes, study material, pens, paper | Leave behind | Not allowed. The test centre gives you scratch paper or an erasable whiteboard. |
| Wallet, bags, passport cover | Locker only | "Baggage of any kind" is not allowed in the test room. |
The three things that can stop you sitting the exam
1. Your passport and your name
CFA Institute only accepts a valid international travel passport: the original document, machine readable, not expired, with a recognisable photo. Your given name(s) and surname in your CFA account must match the passport exactly. A typo, a nickname, or a missing middle name can mean you are refused entry and lose your registration fee.
Check it today, not on exam day. Log in to your CFA account and compare the name, letter by letter, with your passport. CFA Institute says it can't guarantee that name-change requests made less than 30 days before your appointment will be processed in time.
2. Your calculator
Only two calculator families are allowed:
- Texas Instruments BA II Plus (including the BA II Plus Professional)
- Hewlett Packard 12C (including the 12C Platinum, the 25th and 30th anniversary editions, and the 12C Prestige)
Your calculator is inspected before the exam, and you can't borrow one from the test centre or from another candidate. Bring loose spare batteries. You will be asked to clear the calculator's memory before you start, so practise doing it now. If you need a refresher on the keystrokes, our CFA Level 1 calculator guide covers time value of money, NPV, IRR and bond pricing.
3. Getting there on time
CFA Institute asks you to arrive 30 minutes before your appointment. If you arrive late, you may be refused admission. If that happens, your exam fee is non-refundable and can't be deferred. Check your date, time and test centre in your CFA Program account, and plan the route a few days before.
What happens on CFA Level 1 exam day
The exam is 180 multiple-choice questions in two sessions of 90 questions and 135 minutes each. That is about 90 seconds per question. Every question has three options (A, B, C), all questions carry the same weight, and there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave a question blank.
CFA Institute's exam-day guide lists this timeline:
| Section | Time |
|---|---|
| Candidate pledge and exam software tutorial | 19 minutes |
| Session 1 (90 questions) | 135 minutes |
| Break introduction and optional break | 31 minutes |
| Session 2 introduction | 1 minute |
| Session 2 (90 questions) | 135 minutes |
| Survey | About 10 minutes |
Check-in includes a security check: your belongings, clothing and glasses are inspected, you may be checked with a metal detector wand, and the same check is repeated when you come back from a break. Your exam time doesn't start until you are seated and the exam is launched.
Breaks: apart from the optional break between sessions, you can take up to two unscheduled breaks, but the exam clock keeps running. During a break you can use the restroom and, with the proctor's permission, get water, food or medication from your locker. You can't touch your phone or notes, and you can't leave the test centre.
One mistake to avoid: CFA Institute warns candidates not to exit the exam early by accident. Do the exam software tutorial in your CFA account before exam day so the buttons are familiar.
Your final-week checklist
7 days before
- Compare your passport name with your CFA account, letter by letter.
- Confirm your exam date, time and test centre in your CFA Program account.
- Check your calculator works, buy spare batteries, and practise clearing its memory.
- Do the exam software tutorial.
- Read the personal belongings policy once.
The day before
- Pack: passport, calculator, spare batteries, a clear water bottle with the label removed, an extra layer.
- Plan to arrive 30 minutes early, with time to spare for traffic.
- Stop studying by the evening. Sleep matters more than one more chapter.
On the morning
- Eat before you leave. Food stays in the locker during the exam.
- Leave your phone and watch at home or in the car if you can.
- Go through your one-page formula sheet one last time, then put it away.
What to revise in the last 7 days
There is no formula sheet in the exam. CFA Institute provides scratch paper or a whiteboard and nothing else, so every formula has to come from memory. In the final week:
- Formulas every day. Go through one formula sheet daily and do a few questions per formula. Most marks are lost by not knowing which formula a question needs, not by forgetting it completely.
- Ethics. It carries the biggest weight (15–20% in 2026). Do one last pass through the Standards and a set of Ethics questions.
- Calculator drills. Time value of money, NPV/IRR and bond pricing should be automatic. Every second saved goes to harder questions.
- No new material in the last 3–4 days. Review your own notes and the questions you got wrong.
If you have more than a week left, follow our final 3-week CFA Level 1 revision plan, which orders topics by exam weight.
Free revision tools for the final week
CFA Master is a revision companion: use it alongside your main study material, not instead of it.
- CFA Level 1 formula sheet: the key formulas by subject, with notes on when to use each.
- Top 27 formulas, free: the formulas that come up most, on one page. Create a free account to get the printable PDF for your morning-of review.
- CFA Level 1 cheat sheets: the key concepts and decision rules for each module.
- Free practice questions: module-by-module questions with explanations.
Want one last full rehearsal? CFA Master Premium adds a timed 180-question mock exam across all 10 subjects, every module quiz and flashcard deck, and the full editable master formula sheet. All 59 modules unlock. It is a one-time payment, not a subscription. See what Premium includes.
After the exam: when do CFA Level 1 results come out?
CFA Institute says results are usually released 5–7 weeks after the exam, so results for the November 2026 window are expected in early January 2027. You get a pass or fail result and a performance summary by topic. You also need to complete at least one Practical Skills Module to receive your result, so finish it before the exam if you haven't already. See CFA Level 1 exam dates for every window and deadline.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to bring to the CFA Level 1 exam?
Your original, valid international passport and an approved calculator (TI BA II Plus or HP 12C, including their Professional, Platinum, anniversary and Prestige editions). You can also bring loose batteries, a calculator case, keystroke cards and, at most test centres, water in a clear bottle with no label. Everything else goes in the locker.
Is there a formula sheet in the CFA Level 1 exam?
No. CFA Institute provides scratch paper or an erasable whiteboard, but no formula sheet. You need to know the formulas by heart, which is why daily formula revision in the final week matters.
Which calculators are allowed in the CFA Level 1 exam?
Only the Texas Instruments BA II Plus (including the BA II Plus Professional) and the Hewlett Packard 12C (including the 12C Platinum, the 25th and 30th anniversary editions and the 12C Prestige). You can't borrow a calculator at the test centre.
What ID do I need for the CFA exam?
A valid international travel passport: the original, not expired, machine readable, with your name matching your CFA account exactly. It is checked for both exam sessions. A name mismatch can mean you are refused entry and lose your fee.
Can I bring water or snacks into the CFA exam room?
Water is allowed at most test centres in a clear bottle with a lid and the label removed. Food is not allowed in the test room. It stays in your locker, and you can reach it during a break with the proctor's permission.
How early should I arrive for the CFA Level 1 exam?
CFA Institute recommends arriving 30 minutes before your appointment. If you are late you may be refused admission, and your exam fee is then non-refundable and can't be deferred.
Can I take a break during the CFA Level 1 exam?
Yes. There is an optional break between the two sessions, and you may take up to two unscheduled breaks, but the exam clock keeps running during those. You can't use your phone or notes, or leave the test centre, during a break.
When will I get my November 2026 CFA Level 1 result?
CFA Institute releases results about 5–7 weeks after the exam, so November 2026 results are expected in early January 2027. You need to complete at least one Practical Skills Module to receive your result.